In this interview, Anna Savielyeva, Operational Duty Officer for international monitoring at the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) reflects on working under the pressure of the full-scale invasion, the growing importance of international cooperation and the increasing role of women in operational positions within Ukraine’s emergency service.
For Anna Savielyeva, civil protection requires constant coordination, precision and resilience. Having first joined SESU as a psychologist supporting internally displaced persons and evacuees during the early years of the conflict in eastern Ukraine, she later moved into operational coordination, where rapid information exchange and international cooperation play a critical role in emergency response.
When the opportunity to become a member of the Operational Duty Service was extended to me, I readily accepted the position of operational duty officer for international monitoring
Could you tell us about your professional background and what led you to work in civil protection and your current position?
I started working at the State Emergency Service in 2014 as a psychologist. At that time, Ukraine was conducting an anti-terrorist operation in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions in response to the separatist movement supported by the Russian Federation.
This led to a significant number of internally displaced persons and the evacuation of the local population. SESU psychologists participated in the work of an interagency group to provide assistance to refugees and evacuees, providing psychological support through a designated hotline.
Over time, I gained a deeper understanding of the SESU's role, procedures, and measures in responding to emergencies, especially the response operations carried out by the Operational Duty Service, which I found very interesting.
After Ukraine joined the UCPM, interaction between SESU and operational duty officers for international monitoring reached a new level of permanent operational cooperation.
Since the start of the full-scale invasion, emergency services in Ukraine have been working under extremely challenging conditions. How has your role evolved during this period?
With the start of Russia's full-scale military invasion of Ukraine, despite the ongoing shelling, the Operational Duty Service of the SESU continued to work tirelessly. Consequently, the intensity and demands of my work, as well as those of my colleagues, increased significantly, as it entailed responding to a high volume of serious emergencies occurring simultaneously.
Operational cooperation with foreign civil protection authorities and international organisations, particularly through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism (UCPM), also increased. This included exchanging operational information, preparing and submitting requests for international assistance, coordinating its delivery, and informing partners about emergencies and the situation in Ukraine following the Russian Federation’s military aggression.
After Ukraine joined the UCPM, interaction between SESU and operational duty officers for international monitoring reached a new level of permanent operational cooperation, including the secondment of duty officers to the ERCC to assist in coordinating humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
During the crisis, is there a moment or experience from your work that has stayed with you and reflects the importance of emergency coordination
This crisis has highlighted the vital importance of clear coordination and the timely exchange of accurate information between Ukrainian authorities, international organisations and foreign countries.
Its importance can be seen in the work of the Operational Duty Service every day, especially during large-scale hostile attacks on peaceful settlements in Ukraine, when every piece of information and its timely exchange is extremely valuable.
Accurate and rapid information sharing directly impacts the ability to provide timely and adequate assistance to the population.
Women are successfully developing and pursuing careers in our Service, bringing new perspectives and approaches.
Civil protection and emergency services have traditionally been male-dominated fields. How has your experience as a woman shaped your work and professional journey especially in this context?
It is true that men predominate among the staff of the SESU; however, many women are also successfully developing and pursuing careers in our Service, bringing new perspectives and approaches to a system that has been developed over many years.
Based on my personal experience, before I joined the Operational Duty Service there was only one woman working in this position, and I became the second. In the following years, more and more women joined the duty service, although operational work was traditionally considered the prerogative of men. Today, this is becoming less unusual. In my professional experience, I have never felt disadvantaged by my male colleagues, nor have I experienced any disrespect. We collaborate as equals and provide mutual support.
Remember that you are just as capable, talented and strong. You have the potential to bring new vision and approaches to this field.
Women and girls can face specific challenges during emergencies and displacement. From your experience, what are some of the key needs that should be considered when protecting communities during crises? And What message would you share with young women who are considering careers in civil protection or emergency services?
In the context of emergency response and protection of the population, it is important to consider the specific needs of women and girls who, as a result of an emergency, have been forced to leave their homes.
Many have become internally displaced persons, evacuees or refugees, and ensuring their access to medical, social and legal assistance, safe temporary shelter and support during recovery is essential.
To women who would like to develop professionally in civil protection and emergency response, I would say that this field is very diverse and includes many specialties where you can realise your potential while contributing to the creation of a safer world.
Remember that you are just as capable, talented and strong. You have the potential to bring new vision and approaches to this field. Believe in yourself, move forward, and achieve your goals.
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